Sir George Clark, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir George Smith Clark, 1st Baronet DL
(8 November 1861 – 23 March 1935) was a businessman and politician in Northern Ireland. George S. Clark was born in Paisley
, Scotland
the second son of thread manufacturer James Clark, and Jane Smith; both his parents were Scottish Presbyterians.
, Edinburgh
. He was apprenticed to Harland and Wolff
in Belfast and, in 1877, opened his own shipyard on the river Lagan
with Frank Workman. Clark's mother's brother, George Smith, was able to provide capital for this initial venture. In 1891 the firm became Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. Charles Allan (a cousin of Clark's and a member of the Allan Line
family also joined the firm). By 1902 the shipyard was 50 acres (202,343 m²).
work and it was for this that, in 1917, Clark received the Baronetcy of Dunlambert
; his firm now employed 10,000. In 1920 the firm was taken over by the Northumberland Shipping Company the company's fortunes, however, did not remain. A debenture
loan for £3 million was floated, professedly to advance the enterprises of Workman Clark in Belfast. Instead the proceeds were used partly to compensate the former shareholders of Workman Clark, and partly to purchase the shares of other companies which the Northumberland Shipping Company had acquired.
By 1927 the company was all but bankrupt. As a result the directors of the company, including Sir George were sued on the grounds that their 1920 prospectus was fraudulent. At the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal
the directors lost their case; the case reached the House of Lords as Clark & Ors. v Urquhart v. Urquhart [1930] AC 28 The firm finally closed in 1935.
firm; Henry Matier & Co. The couple had two sons. In 1907 he became Member of Parliament
for North Belfast
, retiring in 1910 to devote more attention to his business affairs. In 1913 the Workman Clark shipyard had assisted the UVF gun running. In 1925 Clark became a Unionist
Senator
in the Northern Ireland parliament
. He remained in this position until his death at his home, Dunlambert, Fortwilliam Park, Belfast, on 23 March 1935. He also served as a Deputy Lieutenant
and director of the Bank of Ireland
.
He was buried on 26 March in Belfast City Cemetery
. The virtues of company law
are such that despite the ruin of Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. Sir George died a millionaire.
Upon his death his son, Sir George Clark, 2nd Baronet
, succeeded to the baronetcy; he was a Cambridge-educated naval architect and soldier (d. 1950).
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(8 November 1861 – 23 March 1935) was a businessman and politician in Northern Ireland. George S. Clark was born in Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
the second son of thread manufacturer James Clark, and Jane Smith; both his parents were Scottish Presbyterians.
Early life
Clark was educated at Merchiston Castle SchoolMerchiston Castle School
Merchiston Castle School is an independent school for boys in the village of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has about 480 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 8 and 18 as either boarders or day pupils; day pupils make up 35% of the school....
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He was apprenticed to Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
in Belfast and, in 1877, opened his own shipyard on the river Lagan
River Lagan
The River Lagan is a major river in Northern Ireland which runs 40 miles from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast where it enters Belfast Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The River Lagan forms much of the border between County Antrim and County Down. It rises as a tiny fast...
with Frank Workman. Clark's mother's brother, George Smith, was able to provide capital for this initial venture. In 1891 the firm became Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. Charles Allan (a cousin of Clark's and a member of the Allan Line
Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
The Allan Shipping Line was started in 1819, by Captain Alexander Allan of Saltcoats, Ayrshire, running dry goods from Greenock to sell in Montreal and returning with Canadian produce to sell back in Scotland, a route which quickly became synonymous with the Allan Line...
family also joined the firm). By 1902 the shipyard was 50 acres (202,343 m²).
Workman Clark & Co: Rise and fall
During the war the shipyard concentrated on AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
work and it was for this that, in 1917, Clark received the Baronetcy of Dunlambert
Clark Baronets
There have been four Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Clark , all in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
; his firm now employed 10,000. In 1920 the firm was taken over by the Northumberland Shipping Company the company's fortunes, however, did not remain. A debenture
Debenture
A debenture is a document that either creates a debt or acknowledges it. In corporate finance, the term is used for a medium- to long-term debt instrument used by large companies to borrow money. In some countries the term is used interchangeably with bond, loan stock or note...
loan for £3 million was floated, professedly to advance the enterprises of Workman Clark in Belfast. Instead the proceeds were used partly to compensate the former shareholders of Workman Clark, and partly to purchase the shares of other companies which the Northumberland Shipping Company had acquired.
By 1927 the company was all but bankrupt. As a result the directors of the company, including Sir George were sued on the grounds that their 1920 prospectus was fraudulent. At the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal
Courts of Northern Ireland
The courts of Northern Ireland are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in Northern Ireland: they are constituted and governed by Northern Ireland law....
the directors lost their case; the case reached the House of Lords as Clark & Ors. v Urquhart v. Urquhart [1930] AC 28 The firm finally closed in 1935.
Personal life
In 1881 Clark married Frances Matier, and became a director of her family's linenIrish linen
Irish linen is the brand name given to linen produced in Ireland. Linen is cloth woven from, or yarn spun from the flax fibre, which was grown in Ireland for many years before advanced agricultural methods and more suitable climate led to the concentration of quality flax cultivation in northern...
firm; Henry Matier & Co. The couple had two sons. In 1907 he became Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for North Belfast
Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
, retiring in 1910 to devote more attention to his business affairs. In 1913 the Workman Clark shipyard had assisted the UVF gun running. In 1925 Clark became a Unionist
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
Senator
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.-Powers:...
in the Northern Ireland parliament
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
. He remained in this position until his death at his home, Dunlambert, Fortwilliam Park, Belfast, on 23 March 1935. He also served as a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
and director of the Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland
The Bank of Ireland is a commercial bank operation in Ireland, which is one of the 'Big Four' in both parts of the island.Historically the premier banking organisation in Ireland, the Bank occupies a unique position in Irish banking history...
.
He was buried on 26 March in Belfast City Cemetery
Belfast City Cemetery
Belfast City Cemetery is a cemetery in west Belfast, Northern Ireland. It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and Springfield Road, near Milltown Cemetery...
. The virtues of company law
Corporate law
Corporate law is the study of how shareholders, directors, employees, creditors, and other stakeholders such as consumers, the community and the environment interact with one another. Corporate law is a part of a broader companies law...
are such that despite the ruin of Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. Sir George died a millionaire.
Upon his death his son, Sir George Clark, 2nd Baronet
Sir George Clark, 2nd Baronet
Sir George Ernest Clark DL, 2nd Baronet was the son of Sir George Clark, 1st Baronet of Dunlambert, Belfast. Sir George was educated at Cambridge and was a naval architect...
, succeeded to the baronetcy; he was a Cambridge-educated naval architect and soldier (d. 1950).